Chambers's Book of Days

Robert Chambers, The Book of Days: A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities in Connection with the Calendar (2 vols, 1862-1864).

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Two volumes, 1862 to 1864. Facsimile reprints are easy to find, and original sets turn up second-hand.

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Saturday 1 May

Folklore from the old calendars

Washing in the May dew on Arthur’s Seat Still kept MidlothianChambers found that almost the only May Day habit left in his day was for young women to go out early and wash their faces in the dew, which was held to make them fair.
The milkmaids’ garland No longer kept LondonOn May Day the London milkmaids went round their customers' houses in their best clothes, dancing to a fiddle or pipe and tabor for the annual present.
Robin Hood and the Abbot of Unreason No longer kept Midlothian, ScotlandIn Scotland the Robin Hood games were played with great spirit, above all at Edinburgh, together with the burlesque of the Abbot of Unreason and a Queen of May.
The Debden May garland No longer kept EssexOn May morning little girls in the parish of Debden went from house to house with garlands of different sizes, the large ones with a doll dressed in white in the middle, singing a carol that began with rambling all the night.
The Queen of the May Still kept EnglandIn the old May games the fairest girl of the village was crowned Queen of the May.
The Strand maypole No longer kept LondonParliament ordered every maypole in England and Wales taken down in 1644.
The great shaft of Cornhill No longer kept LondonSt Andrew Undershaft takes its name from the great maypole that was set up every May morning in the street outside its south door, taller than the church steeple.
Henry VIII goes a-Maying on Shooter’s Hill No longer kept Kent, LondonStow wrote that on May morning every Londoner who could walked out into the meadows and woods to enjoy the flowers and the birdsong.
The sweeps’ garland and Jack-in-the-green Still kept LondonMay Day was the great festival of London's chimney sweeps.

Thursday 6 May

Saturday 15 May

Sunday 16 May

Monday 17 May

Tuesday 25 May

Saturday 29 May

Sunday 30 May

Monday 31 May

Not tied to a day

Printed under this month, but not tied to a day: anecdotes, charms and beliefs the books set down here.